The University of Surrey has a surprisingly wide outreach programme for schools and colleges, stretching from primary education through to Year 13.
There are university visits, mentoring, physics events, subject tasters, summer schools, support with applications and programmes aimed at young people who may be less likely to progress to higher education.
Not every opportunity is open to every school, and some programmes have widening-participation criteria, but there is plenty here for teachers, careers leaders and heads of sixth form to explore.
1. Start with the main schools and colleges programme
The University has a dedicated schools and colleges programme covering pupils from Year 5 through to Year 13.
This is probably the best first place for a school to look because current opportunities, visits, outreach programmes and contact details are brought together in one place.
University of Surrey schools and colleges
2. Surrey Scholars provides longer-term support
Surrey Scholars is designed for pupils in Years 9 to 13 who meet widening-participation criteria.
Rather than attending a single university event, pupils can take part in a longer programme of activities, information and support as they move through secondary school and sixth form.
Applications are currently available for pupils who are in Years 9 to 13 from September 2026.
3. Surrey STARS works directly with partner schools
Surrey STARS is a longer-term programme developed with partner secondary schools.
Its focus is not simply on encouraging pupils to think about university. Activities are also designed to support attainment and confidence.
For schools involved in the programme, this creates a more sustained relationship with the University than an occasional campus visit.
4. Year 12 groups can arrange a university visit
Schools can organise visits to the Guildford campus for groups of Year 12 pupils.
Visits can include a tour led by current University students alongside sessions about higher education and the UCAS process.
This is a relatively easy way to give a whole group of pupils some experience of university life.
University of Surrey campus visits for sixth forms
5. The University can come into schools too
Schools do not always need to organise transport to Guildford.
The University’s schools liaison team can deliver presentations and workshops and can support events for pupils, parents and teachers.
That could make Surrey particularly useful for local schools planning a careers day, university evening or sixth-form programme.
6. AIM4University starts in September 2026
AIM4University is particularly relevant at the moment because the latest programme begins on 28 September 2026.
It is aimed at supporting post-16 students with university applications and includes live webinars, recorded content and one-to-one online mentoring.
Pupils can also receive invitations to campus visits, and eligible participants can access help with travel costs.
7. Current university students can act as mentors
One of the useful parts of AIM4University is its mentoring programme.
Applicants can be matched with a current Surrey student who can offer practical advice about university applications, further reading, work experience and preparing for university.
For pupils whose parents or families have little experience of higher education, that personal contact could be particularly valuable.
8. There are regular online university sessions
Not all outreach requires pupils to leave school.
Surrey runs online activities and webinars covering areas such as university applications, personal statements, student finance and university life.
This makes some of the programme accessible to schools well beyond Guildford.
9. Physics teachers should look at Surrey’s separate physics outreach
The School of Mathematics and Physics runs its own outreach alongside the University’s wider schools programme.
This is worth bookmarking separately because it includes physics and astronomy activities that may never appear prominently on a general university outreach page.
University of Surrey mathematics and physics outreach
10. Institute of Physics lectures take place at Surrey
The University hosts Institute of Physics evening lectures on its Guildford campus.
These are intended to be accessible to a broad audience and can give GCSE and A-level pupils the opportunity to encounter physics well beyond their examination specification.
For local physics departments, this could be a very straightforward form of enrichment.
11. Look out for astronomy evenings
Surrey also runs astronomy evenings.
These can include opportunities to hear about astronomy research and, when conditions allow, observe objects through telescopes.
Astronomy is often one of the easiest ways to engage younger pupils with physics, so these events are worth watching for as dates are announced.
12. World Space Week is another opportunity for science departments
The University and the Institute of Physics work together on World Space Week activities in Guildford.
Previous events have included demonstrations, interactive exhibits and talks.
This could make a good enrichment visit for pupils who are interested in space, physics or engineering without requiring them to commit to a formal university programme.
13. Keep checking the maths and physics events calendar
Surrey publishes a separate calendar for events organised through its School of Mathematics and Physics.
It includes areas such as astrophysics, nuclear physics, quantum science and Institute of Physics lectures.
Rather than waiting for an invitation to arrive in school, physics departments could simply check the calendar periodically and pick opportunities that suit their pupils.
Surrey mathematics and physics events
14. Free subject taster days are worth watching for
Surrey runs subject-specific taster days for sixth-form and college students.
These give pupils the opportunity to experience a subject at undergraduate level before deciding what to apply for.
The subjects and dates vary, so this is one of those opportunities that teachers should check throughout the academic year rather than assuming the same programme will run every year.
15. Summer schools are worth planning for early
Surrey has run both residential and non-residential summer programmes for school and college pupils.
The 2026 summer programmes have now finished, so they should not be presented as currently bookable.
However, they are definitely worth watching for when the next round is announced. Summer schools can include academic sessions, university accommodation, student-life activities and opportunities to meet current students.
For pupils considering university but unsure what it is actually like, spending several days on campus can make a real difference.
16. STEM departments should watch for special projects
Surrey also runs or supports individual STEM projects that may only appear for a particular year.
A good recent example was its involvement in the UK Youth Rocketry Competition, where teams worked on designing and building rockets.
That particular 2026 programme has finished, but it illustrates why science, maths, computing and D&T departments should keep checking the outreach pages. Some of the most interesting opportunities may be temporary rather than permanent programmes.
17. In2Surrey can support eligible university applicants
In2Surrey is the University’s contextual admissions programme.
Applications for 2026/27 entry are now closed, but applications for 2027/28 entry are due to open from September 2026.
Eligible applicants may receive a contextual offer that takes account of their circumstances. There is also support towards travel to certain University events.
For sixth-form and careers staff, this is particularly important information to share with pupils who may meet the eligibility criteria.
What is useful about the University of Surrey’s outreach programme is its range.
A school does not necessarily need to sign pupils up for a major residential programme. It might begin with a physics lecture, an astronomy evening, a Year 12 campus visit or an online university session.
There are also more sustained programmes for pupils who would benefit from longer-term support.
For teachers, the key is probably to check regularly. Some opportunities run throughout the year, while taster days, STEM projects and summer schools appear at particular points in the academic calendar.
With the University sitting in Guildford, schools across Surrey and the surrounding counties have a substantial university outreach programme relatively close to home.
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